Arch Med Sci
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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing health concern worldwide. Administration of probiotics and prebiotics has been proposed as a convenient and effective treatment. Our study aims to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 (N1115) and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) by examining the histopathogenesis and underlying molecular events of NAFLD. ⋯ N1115, FOS and synbiotics are effective in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD. Our data support the translation of these agents into clinical evaluation in human subjects with NAFLD and/or associated risk factors.
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Asymptomatic walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) should be treated conservatively, irrespective of the extent and size of the necrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a strategy involving the observation of patients with asymptomatic WOPN over a long period of time. ⋯ The majority of patients with WOPN required interventional treatment. This study provided evidence to support the view that careful observation of patients with asymptomatic WOPN is an efficient and safe treatment strategy. Long-term observation of such patients showed that most will experience spontaneous regression of asymptomatic WOPN without any other form of interventional treatment.
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There are many studies on the epidemiology of the orphan disease polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) in European countries. The use of a hospital morbidity database is an important element of epidemiological analysis. The study is the first such analysis in Poland and may provide an opportunity to compare the data in a European context. ⋯ Incidence of PAN in Poland was estimated to be 2.4 per million and was comparable to the incidence found in other European countries. PAN incidence decreased during 2008-2013. The decrease in PAN incidence may be related to environmental, infectious (hepatitis B) or other unknown factors. Future research is needed to identify the cause of the decrease and potential triggers of the disease.
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The molecular mechanisms behind obesity pathogenesis remain largely undefined. Impairment in the browning process of subcutaneous tissues proposed to contribute to obesity pathogenesis. In the current study, we aimed to assess whether the expression of brown fat genes in subcutaneous tissues in obese patients is altered as compared to non-obese patients. ⋯ Our data suggested that brown and beige genes expression in abdominal subcutaneous tissues is dysregulated in patients with obesity. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of browning of subcutaneous tissues in regulating body weight and metabolism in human.
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Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) is essential for artificial reproduction technology (ART). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a mild starting dosage of r-FSH ovarian stimulation after the modified prolonged GnRH-a down-regulation protocol for COH on the clinical outcomes in normal ovarian responders undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET). ⋯ The modified prolonged GnRH-a pituitary down-regulation regimen combined with mild r-FSH starting dosage improved IVF/ICSI outcomes and reduced the financial cost in normal ovarian responders.